A safe manufacturer put employees at risk by failing to carry out a proper risk assessment before using flammable substances.
Nigel Gibbon, 44, was working at SMP Security Ltd’s factory in Telford when he suffered severe burns while fitting an underfloor safe. On 28 June 2008, he was operating a hand-held flocking machine to apply soft lining to the inside of the safe.
He had coated the inside of the safe with a flammable adhesive and was using the flocking machine to deposit nylon flock on top of the paint. The machine’s electrostatic charge caused the explosive atmosphere inside the safe to ignite. Mr Gibbon suffered second-degree burns to his left hand and wrist and required surgery to repair a damaged tendon.
HSE inspector, David Kivlin, told SHP that the incident could have been avoided if the firm had carried out a suitable risk assessment, which would have identified the risk of an explosion. He said: “A sufficient risk assessment would have identified several alternatives that could have been easily implemented, such as using flocking equipment specifically designed for use in flammable atmospheres, or replacing the flammable adhesive with a water-based version.”€
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